How will the 49ers react without its two most talented defenders?

49ers will be a different team without NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith.

Within three short months, the 49ers have lost two of their most talented players on defense. In their own self evaluation a couple years ago, the team deemed that linebacker NaVorro Bowman and pass rusher Aldon Smith were in the top 10 percent at their positions.

Now, Bowman is likely out until mid-season after destroying his knee in the NFC title game loss to Seattle, and Smith’s future with the team is in severe jeopardy following his latest arrest.

Bowman’s game is built on speed and there’s no assurance he will return to his former self after tearing two ligaments in his knee.

Smith is another issue altogether. According to San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami, Smith is unlikely to receive the $9.75 million extension for 2013 which is due on May 3. Even though the 49ers can rescind the offer at any time before the start of the 2015 new league year, there’s serious doubts that Smith is a $10 million player.

He was once on pace to be a $13 million to $14 million player, and the 49ers appeared to be budgeting for that eventuality. The $9.75 million extension seemed feasible for the 49ers at season’s end, even though Smith was facing sentencing on two DUI’s and gun charges.

His latest arrest by the Los Angeles airport police has now dropped Smith into maybe the $5 million range.
The timing of Smith’s latest legal problem leaves the 49ers with a glaring vacuum. If Smith were arrested earlier in the off-season maybe the team would have tried to sign former Cowboy Demarcus Ware, or former Chief and Viking Jared Allen.

Now the team has a choice to make. Once built on a All-Pro set of four linebackers, the team’s defensive focus could change dramatically. One way to go is to devote more attention to offense in the upcoming draft to make up for the talent drain at linebacker.

The 49ers have hinted this may be the way to go. Even before Smith’s latest arrest, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh suggested the team could display more three-receiver sets. The team has been linked to LSU speedster Odell Beckham Jr. and Florida State receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

Whatever the 49ers do, it’s unlikely they can replicate the defensive excellence of the last three years without their two most talented players for a lot if not all of the season.